Dennis Oliech missing as Migne names provisional squad for Ghana match next month

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Crawley Town  FC defender David Sessay is among the new inclusion in the 24-man provisional squad  released by Harambee Stars head coach Sébastien Migné on Thursday afternoon to face Black Stars of Ghana in the final 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in Accra on March 22.

The Frenchman once again declined to include Kenya’s record scorer, Dennis Oliech, who has impressed since returning to football with SportPesa Premier League (SPL) champions, Gor Mahia FC.

Christopher Tangen Mbamba who features for Swedish outfit Oskarshamns  FC has also received  the call -up to beef up the Stars midfield that will be marshalled by skipper Victor Wanyama of Tottenham Hotspurs FC and Ismael Gonzales of Spanish side UD Las Palmas B.

Zesco FC defender David ‘Calabar’ Owino also makes a return after missing  the clash against Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani last October due to knee injury.

Duke Abuya who won the 2019 SportPesa Cup with Kariobangi Sharks FC last month and SPL Golden Gloves winner Faruok Shikhalo of Bandari FC have also gotten the coach’s nod. The team is set to hit camp on March 17 in Nairobi ahead of the clash against Ghana.

However, there is no sentimental return of former  Stars skipper  Oliech, who has been a hit since returning to domestic football with Gor with Migne insisting he wants to see more of him before deciding to include the only active player who played in the national team at their last AFCON in 2004.

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Also omitted from the team is Bandari midfielder, Abdallah Hassan who was named the SportPesa/SJAK Player of the Month for January on Tuesday with Kakamega Homeboyz FC captain and striker, Allan Wanga, relegated to the reserve list.

Kenya stunned three-time African champions Ghana 1-0 to open the door for the 2019 AFCON finals qualification at the MISC, Kasarani last October with an own-goal from Nicholas Opuku following pressure by striker Michael Olunga.

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Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers

Patrick Matasi (St Georges, Ethiopia), Farouk Shikalo (Bandari), John Oyemba (Kariobangi Sharks)

Defenders

Erick Ouma (Vasalund, Sweden), Musa Mohammed (Nkana FC, Zambia), David Owino (Zesco, Zambia), Brian Mandela (Maritzburg, South Africa), David Sessay (Crawley Town, England), Philemon Otieno (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Benard Ochieng (Vihiga United, Kenya), Joash Onyango (Gor Mahia, Kenya)

Midfielders

Erick Johanna (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden), Johanna Omollo (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Ismael Gonzales (UD Las Palmas B, Spain), Paul Were (Trikala, Greece), Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspurs, England), Francis Kahata (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Christopher Tangen Mbamba (Oskarshamns, Sweden), Dennis Odhiambo (Sofapaka, Kenya), Anthony Akumu (Zesco, Zambia)

Forwards

Michael Olunga (Kashiwa Reysol, Japan), Duke Abuya (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), Cliff Nyakeya (Mathare United, Kenya), Masud Juma (unattached)

Reserve Players

Abdallah Hassan (Bandari FC, Kenya), Allan Wanga (Kakamega HomeBoyz, Kenya), Nicholas Kipkirui (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Roy Okal (Mathare United, Kenya), Cliffton Miheso (Club Olimpico Montijo, Portugal

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